Winter reluctantly releases its grip as spring rolls into view

Thursday was the official start of spring but winter held on until the last minute. The violent storm system affected more than 75 million people in one way or another.

The storms marched across the U.S. on the heels of last weekend’s deadly storm that took 42 lives. Blizzard conditions in the middle of the country closed portions of I-80 and knocked out power to more than 140,000 customers in six states including Nebraska, Iowa and Arkansas.

The wind also whipped up wildfires throughout the South forcing evacuations in Texas and closing sections of the interstate in Florida.